Button-mold



(No Model.)

T."G. ROEBUOK.

BUTTON MOLD. No. 366,688. Patented July 19, 1887.

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N. PETERS. Pmm-um m. Wilhinlan. 92 c UNITED STATES PATENT Fries.

THOMAS G. ROEBUCK, OF JERSEY CITY, NE\V JERSEY.

BUTTON-MOLD.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 366,688, dated July 19, 1887.

(No model.)

To aZZ whom, it may concern.-

Be it known that l, Tnonas G. RoEnUoK, a. citizen ofthe United States, residing at Jer' sey City, county of Hudson,and State of New Jersey, have invented certain new and useful Improvements i n ButtonMolds, fully described and represented in the following specification and the accompanying drawings, forming a part of the same.

This invention relatesto a mold or body which is designed for use in the production of cloth-covered buttons having flexible shanks or tufts.

It is the object of the invention to provide a button-mold of this character which, while simple in construction and capable of being produced at a comparatively small cost, shall be of such a character as to retain the shank firmly and make the button strong and durable. As an understanding of the invention can be best given by an illustration and de scription of a button-mold constructed according to the invention, such description will be given, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, in which Figures 1, 2 and 3, 4 are respectively side and sectional views of the two pieces of metal of which the mold is composed. Fig. 5 is a plan, and Fig. 6 a sectional, view of the completed mold. Fig. 7 is aback,and Fig. 8 a sectional, view of a covered button made on a mold of the construction shown in Figs. 5 and 6. Figs. 9,10 and 11, 12 are views similar to Figs. 3,4, illustrating modifications in the construction of the mold.

Referring now particularly to Figs. 1 to 6 it is to be understood that the button-mold therein-shown is composed of three parts viz., a metal eyelet for holding the retainingring, which eyelet is provided with an outwardly-projecting flange, a face-plate composed of thin metal, and a flexible shank or tuft by which the button is secured to thegarment. The eyelet a of the mold is formed of thin sheet metal, and is provided at its inner end with an ontwardly-projecting flange, b. The face 0 of the mold is made of a thin metal disk and is secured to the eyelet by having its edge (1 turned inward so as to overlap the flange b of the eyelet.

In order to prevent the edge cl of the faceplate 6 from wrinkling when it is folded inward,it is provided around its edge with radial slots, as shown, by which sufficient ofthemetal is removed to permit the edge (Z of the face 0 to be folded inward without wrinkling and lie flat upon the flange b, as shown in Fig. 5. The flexible shank or tuft e is formed of a piece of canvas,or any other suitable material such as is commonly employed for such purposes, the middle of which is drawn through the eyelet, as shown in Fig. 6, while its edges are spread outward beneath the flange b of the eyelet. The flexible shank having been arranged in the eyelet, the eyelet and shank are placed upon the faceplate c and the edge (I of the plate is folded inward, so as to overlap the flange b,and the whole is pressed together by a suitable die, so as to assume substantially the shape shown in Figs. 5 and 6. In this operation the edges of the material forming the tuft are grasped and held between the faceplate c and the flange I) of the eyelet in such manner as to retain the tuft firmly in the button and prevent it from being withdrawn, and at the same ti mean inwardly-projeeting rim orflange, f, is formed around the edge ofthe mold,within which the retaining-ring will fit. when the cloth cover is applicd,so as to retain the cover more securely on the mold.

The operation of producing a covered button from the mold thus formed is the same as with the molds now in common use. The piece of matcrial,g,with which the mold is to be covered is folded around the mold so thatits edges are brought together around the eyelet a. The retaining-ring h, which is of the usual form, is then placed around the eyelet and pressed onto the edges of the material 9, so as to force it inward inside the flange f, and thus hold it very securely around the mold,and the ring is then secured in that position by spreading the end of the eyelet c,which is done by any suitable tool for that purpose. This produces the covered button shown in Figs. 7 and S.

The shank or tuft 0 will in ordinary cases be retained in the button with sufficient firmness by simply being grasped between the face .0 and the flange I), as shown in Figs. 6 and 8; but if in any case the button is to be subjected to more than the usual strain the shank may be held in the button still more firmly by pro viding the flange hwith prongs i, which will engage with the edges of the shank when the parts are pressed together. The prongsi may be formed around the edge ofthe flange b, as shown in Figs. 9 and 10; or they may be formed by cutting and bending inward portions of the flange [)5 as shown in Figs. 11 and 12.

The buttonmold thus formed is, as will be observed, exceedingly simple in its construction and can be produced ata sniallcost,wl1ile at the same time the shank is very firmly retained in the body, thus producing a strong and serviceable button.

What I claim is- 1. The herein-described button-mold,- consisting of the eyelet a, having the flange b, the face 0, having the slotted edge (I folded over onto said flange,and the flexible shank e, having its edges confined between the face 0 and the flange b, substantially as described.

2. The herein'deseribed button-mold, 0011- sisting of the eyelet a, having the flange b, the face 0, having its edge folded inward onto the flange b and provided with the inwardly-projecting flange f, and the flexible shank e, having its edges confined between the face 0 and the flange b, substantially as described.

3. The hereindescribed button-mold, consisting of the eyelet at, having the flange 1), provided with the prongs 2', the face 0, having its edge d folded inward onto the flange b, and the flexible shank 6, having its edges confined between the face 0 and the flange b, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set 3 5 my hand in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

THOMAS o. ROEBUOK.

\Vitnesses:

J. A. HOVEY, T. H. PALMER. 

